Patna: The Bihar government has begun acquiring 90 acres of land for the expansion of Darbhanga Airport’s runway, marking a key step towards upgrading the airport to international standards. The state has transferred Rs 245 crore to the Darbhanga district administration for the acquisition, following a cabinet decision in January.
In a fresh push to the Centre, Bihar Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena has written to the Ministry of Civil Aviation reiterating the state’s commitment and requesting that the proposal be expedited. The letter, addressed to the Civil Aviation Secretary, underlines the strategic importance of Darbhanga Airport, citing its high passenger traffic, connectivity across North Bihar and neighbouring regions, and proximity to Nepal.
This is the second formal communication from the Bihar government after an earlier letter sent in September 2024. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had, in October, requested 90 acres of additional land to extend the runway to 12,000 feet in accordance with international aviation norms. The Ministry of Defence granted in-principle approval in December, subject to a detailed proposal.
The state government has targeted August 2025 for the completion of the land acquisition and reiterated its full support for future stages of the upgrade.
JD(U) working president and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Kumar Jha welcomed the move, saying, “We are confident that when Darbhanga Airport becomes an international airport, trade and tourism will increase in North Bihar, new employment opportunities will be created on a large scale and development will get a new impetus.”
